Check-writer.



L. M. TODD & C. G. TIEFEL.

CHECK WRITER.

APPLICATION man PR.29.1915.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919. I

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

wmv smmm/m/a's LII/anus M Todd Charles G. Tiefel L. M. TODD & C. GI TIE FEL,

Patented Feb. 11, 1919 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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LIBANUS M. TODD AND CHARLES e. TIEFEL, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE AssIGN ENTs, TO TODD PROTECTOGRAPH COMPANY, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

CHECK-WRITER.

To all whom it may concern: 7

' Be it known that we, LIBANUS M. TODD and CHARLES G. TIEFEL, both of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-VVriters; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable any person skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

()ur invention relates to that class of printing machines which is adapted for marking checks, drafts, and other commer-' cial papers with a monetary value'in such an indelible manner as-to defy the alteration, or -raising, of the instrument .to make it appear payable for a larger amount than was originally intended to be conveyed.

The object of theinvention is to provide a simple, compact and convenient machine gether with other advantageous features which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which y Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine.- I

Fig. 2 is an elevation fromv the left side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation from the left side of the machine with the side of the casing removed.

Fig; 4 is a sectional elevation from the front of the machine taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. y

Fig. 5 is 'a sectional elevation from the right side, the side of the casing being removed.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'wheel will lie just even with the top at me Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

Application filed April 29, 1915. Serial No. 24,810.

Fig. 6 is atop plan view with the top of the casing removed.

Fig. '7 is a detail view from above, of the pointer for the dial with its carriage, and a portion of the guide rail.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the same from the left side of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a central sectional elevation thereof.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail-in elevation of the pawl and ratchet device of the feeding mechanism asseen from the right of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a detail view in outside elevation of the operating crank.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail in section of the end of the ink roll spindle showing the roll retaining means in inoperative position. I 1

Fig. 13 is a section of the same part in elevation showing the retaining means in operative position.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section showing the means for retracting the ink roll.

Fig. 15 is an elevation in section of the platen lever head and the plat-en.

. In the present embodiment of the invention the operating parts of the machine aresupported and inclosed by a casing com prising a lower base portion; 21 and an upper box-shaped frame portion 22 supported upon the base 21 and attached thereto by screws 23. These portions of the casing (see Fig. 3) are partially separated by a horizontal slot 24. extending across the casing through its sides and open ing at the front of the machine for receiving the paper to be printed, and a plate 25 on the base 21 of the casing forms the lower side of the slot and serves as asupporting bed for the paperin its passage through the slot.

There is provided in the upper portion 22 of the casing above the slot in type drum or cylinder 26 fixed to a shaft 27 which is rotatably journaled at its ends in bearings 28 and 29 in the sides of the casing. The type wheel carries fixed upon its periphery a. plurality of type forms 30 arranged parallel with the axis of the shaft 27, and the type wheel is so positioned in the casing that these type forms when brought into printing position at the bottom of t e slot 24. It will also be noted by reference to Fig. 4 that the type forms are arranged upon the wheel with their rear ends in alinemen't' circumferentially of the cylinder for a purpose which will presently appear. A guard plate 163 attached at its ends to the casing extends across the slot under the type wheel and is provided with an elon-.

gated opening above. the platen so that the paper is rotected from contact with the .type whee except when pressed through the 'ing position over the slot 24.- It will be noted that the gear 32 has a greater number of teeth than the gear 31, so that only a partial rotation of the knob 34 is necessary to produce a. complete rotation of the type wheel. This feature allows thetype wheel to be completely rotated by turning the knob 34 through a conveniently small distance, and together with the ample knurled surface of the knob affords a very convenient means for positioning any selected type form in printing position.

An important feature of machines of this type is the provision of a readily legible dial and pointer for indicating the rotary position of the type wheel. It has been a common practice to place the dial upon the periphery of a wheel or disk fixed to the shaft of the type wheel, but the disadvantage of this arrangement is that it is impossible to see at one time more than a-minor portion of the whole range of characters on the dial and, furthermore, the rapid selection of any desired character on the dial is made difficult by the rotational movement of the dial itself. We have conceived a convenient arrangement for obviating these difliculties, which will now be described.

The casing is provided with a substantially plane top formed by plate 35 ren'iovably attached to the casing by means of screws, shown in Figs. 1 and 4, to provide for ready access to thejinterior parts. This plate 35 is inclined downwardly toward the front of the machine so that its surface is readily visible to the operator, and the central ortion. of

- the plate. is provided with a swel or flange 36, in,mwhi is seated/a dial 38 visible through a corresponding opening 37 in the plate. The dial extends from front to back of the machine and carries thereon, arranged shbstantially in a column, the various printing edg er-asters corresponding the type and 9, is provided with horizontally extending arms .41 and a vertically extending plate 42, each carrying grooved rollers 43 adapted to embrace androll along the edges, of the angular guide rail 44. The carria e 40 and its attached pointer 39 are mov down the guide rail 44 by means of a band or cord 45 passing over guide lugs 46 on the plate 42 and through a bore 47 in a small up and it block 48 adapted to be adjusted up and down a on the plate 42 between guidelugs 49 on said plate. The block 48 has shallow channels in its ends in which the band is snugly seated between the block and the uide lugs 49 and the band. is thus frictional y secured to the carriage 40.. The block 48 is adjusted by means of a screw 50 which passes through a threaded opening therein "and is rotatably supported at its lower end by lugs 51 on the plate 42 engaging a groove 52 in the lower end of the screw. The above described means for attaching the cord 45 to the carriage 40 serves as a tension adjusting device for regulating the tension of the band. It will be seen that by turning the screw 50 by means.

of a slot in its u per end, the block 48 will. be made to 'trave up and down between its guiding lugs, thus drawing a smaller or larger portion of the band into the convolution and thereby varying the tension in the band. j

The band 45 extends parallel with the guide rail 44 and'passes over guide pulleys 53 and 54 at the ends of said rail and thence dbwnwardly izn crossed relation about a grooved pulley 55 fixed to the left end of the type wheel. The band is given one or more turns about the pulley 55 to insure a proper amount of friction, and may also be pinned to the surface of the pulley to positively insure, against any slip of the band on the pulley surface. The casing opposite the gear 32 is provided with a lug 56 in position to be struck by pin 57 on said gear for proventing over travel of the band 45. Instead of the band or cord 45, a sprocket chain or other equivalent connection might of course be employed.

The operation of this indicating device is suggestedby the descri tion of its construction. As the type w eel is revolved by means of knob 34, the band 45 is driven by rage of provided on the type I wheel is constantly visible on the stationary the type wheel in the plate-25 of the'base portion of the casing. The-platen is an elongated metal bar extending parallel with the type forms and having an impression surface common to all the type forms for individual cooperation therewith and adapted to be raised squarely against the same. The platen and type forms are provided with cooperating surfaces adapted to disrupt the fiber of the paper simultaneously with the printing operation, so that the paper is thoroughly impregnated with ink, such for instance, as the construction disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 7 93249, granted to Libanus M. Todd, June 27, 1905,

. for printing apparatus. However, as the construction of these members forms no part of the present invention, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. The platen is supported in a slot in the head 60 atthe forward end of one arm 61 of a bellcrank lever 62 having an arm 63, extending upwardly into the top of the casing. This lever is pivotally supported by means of a. bearing 6-1 on a shaft 65 supported at its ends in the sides of the upper portion 22 of the casing. The platen is adjustable in the head 60 by means of thrust screws 150 and a retracting screw 151, shown in Fig. 15.

The platen lever 62 is actuated by means of a cam 67 fixed upon the main operating shaft 69 which extends across the casing, and is rotatably journaled in the sides thereof, the right end of the shaft projecting outside of the casing and carrying an operating crank 130 which will be described hereafter.

- The cam 67 is provided with a high portion 68 which is adapted during the latter portion of each rotation of the shaft to contact with a surface upon the upwardly extending arm 62-} of the platen lever and to rock the lever. raising the platen at the forward end of the lever and forcing it with considerable pressure against the type form above. This wheel and platen operating member in the upper portion of the casing above the slot,

and the platen in the lower portion of the casing below the slot- This construction brings the operating stresses upon the me ing at its weakest section, that is, at the plane of the work slot, and as a result the type wheel and platen are not rigidly supported relatively to each other and the easing is frequently broken at this point. This is especially true where, for convenience in manufacturing as well as in assembling the machine, the upper and lower portions of the casing are formed as separate castings and bolted together. In the construction which we have devised, however, the type wheel, platen operating shaft and platen are all supported in the upper integral frame of the casing. This arrangement therefore affords the maximum strength, as well as allowing of the greatest accuracy in the assembling of the parts mentioned:

The means for inking the type wheel consistsof a large inking roll 71 journaled upon a spindle 72, one end of which is fixed in an arm 73 extending downwardly from a sleeve 71 rotatably carried by a spindle 75 supported in the sides of the casing. The inking roll is remova'bly held on the spindle 72 by a means which will be presently described, and an opening is provided in the adjacent side of the casing to permit the withdrawal of the ink roll for cleaning and reinking the same. This opening is shown at 66 in Fig. 3, and means is provided for retracting the inking roll from the type wheel and centering it. opposite the opening 66 so that it may be removed, comprising a push button 160 (Fig. 14) in the side of the casing having a conical head 161 adapted to be moved into contact with a similar head 162 on the arm 73, so that while the push button is normally pressed outwardly it may be pushed in to swing arm 7 3 to one side and bring the roll 71 opposite opening 66 in the casing. The sleeve 74 is provided with an upwardly extending lug 76 to which is attached one end of the spring 77, the other end of which has already been described as attached to the upper arm of the platenlever. The spring 115 77 thus serves the double function of holding the upper arm of the platen lever against its cam with the platen in retracted position, and also of pressing the inking roller into rolling contact with the type wheel. The 120 roll is so located that as it drops in between adjacent type forms on the wheel in the rotation of the latter, it serves to approximately center one of the type forms directly above the platen.

The device for retaining the ink roll upon its spindle comprises a' spring bail 126, (Figs. 12' and 13) having 'its ends turned inwardlyto engage in a bore 127 in the spindle 72 adjacent the end of the ink roll. 13m

The end of the spindle is provided with diametrically placed longitudinal recesses 128,.

and also with apair of diametrically placed recesses 129 perpendicular to recesses 128 and to the opening 127. Thus, when the bail 126 is turned to extend longitudinally of the spindle its sides spring into the recesses 128 and the ink roll may be freely removed from the spindle. When, however, the .bail 126 is turned at right angles to the spindle its sides engage in the shallow recesses 129, retaining the bail in this right-angular position. The bail thus serves to hold the inking roll upon the spindle and any pressure that the roll extac led to the left end of the type wheel and having on its periphery a plurality of notches 79 provided with beveled sides and positioned to correspond with the various type forms. Cooperating with this notched disk 78 isa pivoted arm 80, carryingat its forward end-a pointed dog 81 adapted to enter and snugly fit the notches on the disk- The arm 80 is carried by a plate 82 pivotally mounted on a spindle 83 supported by the casing. The plate 82 is normally held with its arm 80 raised against the guide rail 44 above it, out of contact with the disk 78, by means of a spring 8-1 attached to a lug at the bottom of the plate 82. This plate carries at its upper end a lug 85 adapted to cooperate with a cam 86 carried by the main operating shaft 69. In the initial position of the shaft 69 the lug 85 is opposite a recess in the cam 86 which allows it to occupy the raised inoperative position described above, but at the commencement of the rotation of shaft 69, the high portion of the cam 86 comes into contact with lug 85 and moves the arm 80 downwardly so that its end 81, entering one of the notches of the disk 78, serves to accuwheels 87 having finely knurled peripheries for engaging the paper projectin through openings 88 in the bed plate 25 elow the printing slot. These feed wheels are fixed upon a shaft 89, journaled at its forward end in. a lug 90 supported by the bed plate 5, and its other end in the rear wall of the casing. This shaft is actuated through a pawl and ratchet mechanism hereinafter described, by a cam 91 on the main operating shaft 69. This cam contacts with an arm 92 rotatably carried by a spindle 93 supported in the side Walls of the casing. Rotatably carried by the same spindle 93 is a lever having a forwardly projecting arm 123 and a rearwardly projecting arm 91. The arm 91- has at its end a lug 95 to which is attached one end of a spring 96, the other end of which is attached to the arm 92. The arm 94 is provided with a stop 97 against which strikes a lug 98 on the arm 92, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. The spring 96 serves to maintain the arm 92 with its lug against the stop on the arm 94 so that relative movement of these arms in this direction is prevented, but the arm 92 is free to move in the other direction relative to the arm 9& against the tension of the spring 96. Pivoted upon a pin 99 at the end of arm 94; is a link 100 pivotally attached at its other end to a bar 101.enlarged the upper end of the arm 92 against its cam on the operating shaft and the bar 101 in its lower starting position there is provided a spring 110 having one end attached at 111 to the hub of'the arm 92 andits other end to a lug 112 on the rear wall of the casing. It will now be understood from the construction described above that at each rotation of the shaft 69, cam 91 contacts with arm 92 which, by means of the tension of spring 96 raises the arm 94 and bar 101, thus turning yoke 105 carrying the pawl which engages and positively turns the shaft 89by means of the ratchet wheel 109. A spring retaining pawl 1 15 fixed to the casing bears upon the ratchet wheel 109 to prevent backward motion of the latter during the setting movement of the-pawl 107.

I For holding a-paper in adjusted position in the rinting slot and in contact with the feed w eels we provide a clamping device comprisirg a pair of small presser rolls 113 journaled on an arm 111 adapted to press v the paper against the top 'ofthe feed wheels 87. (See Figs. 9, 4 and 5). The arm 11% i3 pivotally carried by a spindle 115 supported in the Walls of the casing, and has a tail piece 116 to the rear end of which is attached the lower end of spring 84, previously described as having its upper end attached to the centering plate 82. This spring therefore serves a double function of holding the centering device in inoperative position and also-of urging the presser rolls .113 against.

the feed wheels 87. For raising the presser rolls to allow the insertion or removal of the paper there is provided a rod 118 pivotally attached at 119 to'the tail piece 116 of the lever 1191. Rod 118 extends vertically through an opening in the top plate of the casing and carries at its upper end a finger piece 120, by means of which it may be conveniently depressed against the tension of spring 84 to raise the presser rolls 113.

In order to simplify the operation of the machine we have provided an automatic means so that when the presser rolls are raised to withdraw the paper upon completion of one printing operation they will be retained in raised position and automatically released to clamp the paper at the commencement of a subsequent printing operation. This means comprises a catch 121 in the form of a recess in the rod 118 and a coacting lug 12-2 on the plate 82 of the centering device. (Fig. 3). The spring 81 normally holds lug 122 in contact with the rod 118 so that when the latter is depressed the catch 121 engages under the lugl22 and so holds the presser rolls in elevated position. At the beginning of the next printing operation, however, as previously pointed out, the cam 86 eontactingwith lug 85 on the plate 82 actuates the centering dog and at the same time carries the lug 12:? out of contact with catch 121 and so immediately releases the presser rolls which descend and clamp the paper in position. v

It will be understood from the foregoing description that a means is provided for positively feeding the paper forward for each printing impression, but since the characters on the type. wheel are of different lengths as, for example the Words One and Seventeen, it is necessary to provide a device for controlling theamount of the feeding movement given to the paper to correspond with the length of the printing character to be impressed. This device comprises a disk 12-5 (Fig. 5) fixed to the shaft of the type wheel at its right end'adjacent. to the casing and having its periphery cut to form a series of stop shoulders corresponding to the varioustvpe forms on the type, whee ea h of which stop shoulders is located at a radial distance from the center of shaft .2? determined by the relative length of its corresponding form on the type whi l.

lever arm 123 mentioned above is provided with a projectingend 12% adapted to contact with the stop shoulder corresponding to the type form placed at the printing position. Since the arm 123 is a part of the same rigid lever as arm 9-;t which actuates the feeding device, it will be apparent that the amount of feeding action imparted to the latter is determined by the particular stop shoulder which is placed under the end 12+ of lever 123 and that when lever 123 is prevented from descending farther by one of the stop shoulders, the arm 92 actuated by cam'91 will turn idly about its pivot, stretching th spring 96 without further actuating the feeding device. There is thus provided a yielding connection between arm 92 and the feeding mechanism so that while the arm 92 is given a constant throw at every revolution of the operating shaft, the amount of feeding action imparted to the feed wheels is determined by the gag memher 125 to correspond with the length of the character to be printed.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, it will be seen froin the relative angular arrangement of the several actuating cams on the operating shaft 6!) that as the latter is rotated from ini? tial position the first efl'ect is thatthe typewheel is in'miediatcly centered and locked with the selected type form in precise posi-v tion for cooperation with the platen. Next, the feeding mechanism is actuated to advance the paperso that the printed impression made upon the paper during the previous operation of the machine is moved along and there is brought into printing position under the type wheel a blank portion of paper just sufficient in length to receive th new impression properly spaced from the previous impression. The platen is then actuated to press the paper against the type wheel and produce the printed impression, and finally, the centering device is returned to inoperative position, releasing the type wheel for adjustment for the next operation.

The actuation of the feeding devices before, rather than subsequently to, the actuation of the printing couple during each printing operation, together with the use of an operating memiber manually actuated through a complete rotation has a definite purpose in our machine the advantage of which will now be described. It has been a common practice in machines of this type to employ a recipriiratiug operating handle manually actuated through the first half of its stroke, during which the impression of tlnpriming coupl made and a spring pla ed under stress which then actste return me operating handle to starting l lsl I feeding mechanism. After the handle has been moved through the first half of its stroke its return may be retarded by the hand so that it moves gently back to starting position, or the handle may then 'be entirely released so that it is thrown. sharply back to initial position by the full force of the spring. In the first case the paper is given a minimum amount of feed, whereas in the second case the inertia of the feeding mecha nism results in excessive feeding and a wide space between the impressions. Furthermore, the spacing between impressions will be varied with any variation in the strength of the spring, andas it is one of the essential requisites, to the protection afforded by a check writing machine to avoid undue spacing of the words, this type of construction has proven objectionable. I

In the present invention the machine is actuated by a complete revolution of the operating crank by hand, without resort to spring pressure except for returning parts to their initial positions, and it has been found that in practice the crank will be rotated at quite uniform speed by the operator. The actuation of the feedin mechanism occurs during the beginning 0 the rotation of the crank, when its motion is most uniform and the printing couple is actuated during the latter part of the rotation of the crank when the momentum is greatest. This arrangement obviates the difliculties pointed out above.

The object of the arran ement of the type forms with their rear en s in alinement circumferentially of the wheel will now be understood. Since the feeding movement occurs previously to the impression during each printing operation, and its amplitude is determined by .the length of the impression about to be made and without reference to the length of the previous impression, it is necessary that the rear end of the previou impression should be always 10- cated inthe same position relatively to the type wheel and that the rear end of the impression about to be made should come to the same position as its typeform is rotated to the printing point, so that the length of the impression about to be made may be measured off between these two rear ends by the feeding mechanism. The rear ends of all the type forms therefore occupy a common position relatively to the type wheel in a line extending circumferentially thereof.

A work gage for assisting in the proper location of the work in the slot is provided on the base portion of the casing, (Fig. 2) and comprises a sliding clip 138 having its forward end 139 extending upwardly across the work slot for determining the distance to which the work is to be inserted in the slot. -The clip is guided for adjustment back and forth by means of a slot 1. M) in the clip and a clamping screw 1-11, and also by a small lug (not shown) on the inside of the forward end 139 engaging in the work slot. The clip is provided with a pointer 143 moving over a scale 1H for convenience in adjustment.

The operationof printing a check will now be briefl described. The finger piece 120 having een depressed to raise the presser rolls, the .check is placed in proper position in the work slot and the knob is then turned to select the first character to be printed, which is usually the line of stars shown on the dial and serving. as a limit .ing or stopping ofi' character. The crank 131 is then given a complete rotation. This centers the type wheel, allows the pres-sci: rolls to bear upon the paper, feeds the paper forward to receive the impression, produces the impression and then retracts the centering device. The knob 34; is then turned. to select the next character. If the amount to be printed is say, $375.41, the pointer brought in succession opposite the characters 37,, Hundred, 707 5, I)O11ars'777 40731 1, and finally Cents, and each setting of the pointer on the dial is followed by a stroke of the crank 130 to feed and print the paper. The operation completed, the finger piece 120 is then depressed to raise the presser rolls and release the check which may then be withdrawn.

he main operating shaft 69 extending through the right wall of the casing is pro vided with a removable operating crank 130 having a handle 131, as shown in liigs. --.i-., 6 and 11. Referring to Figs. 6 and 11 it will be seen that the end of the crank 130 is formed with a V-shaped opening the iii-- clined sides of which are adapted to l slido into correspondingly inclined grooves 133 adjacent the end of shaft 69. By this means the crank is securely fixed to the shaft for rotating the latter and it will be noted lfi'iui the crank can only be placed on the s from one side so that it is always assem bled in proper relation. The crank 18%) has attached thereto a spring plate 134. 1.1

The lower endof'this plate as seen in. Fig.

-11, isrigidly attached to the crank by means of a pin 135 and its upper end is guided by a pm 136 so that this end can be sprung away from the crank. This endof the plate unauthorized operation of the machine and for convenience in packing.

The security against alteration of the printed impression of value on a check requires that there be no excessive spacing between the words to allow of the insertion of letters or words to change the value eX- pressed. In the usual machine of this type an inadvertent and incomplete movement of the operating member causes a feeding of the paper without a corresponding impression so that an extra space precedes the next impression. We contemplate the use of a construction to prevent the making of a faulty impression of this kind, comprising a ratchet wheel 165 (Figs. 3 and 6) on the shaft 69 and a cohperating spring pressed pawl 166 carried on the casing for insuring the completion of each stroke of the operating crank 131.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is l. A check writer comprising a casing having a substantially horizontal work receiving slot, a type carrier above the slot movable to bring a plurality of type forms, selectively, to a common printing position, a platen below the slot having an impression surface common to said type forms, a type centering device, mechanism for feeding the avork through the slot. and a single rotary operating shaft rotatable in but one direction through a complete revolution, and provided with means cotiperating with the centering device for actuating the latter, with separate means coiiperating with the feeding mechanism for actuating it, and also with means cohperating with the platen for actu ating it to produce an impression.

9.. A check writer comprising a casing having a substantially horizontal work receiving slot, a type carrier above the slot movable to bring a plurality of type forms, selectively, to a common printing position, a platen below the slot having an impression surface common to said type forms, a type centering device, mechanism for feeding the work through the slot, and a single rotary operating shaft rotatable in but one direction through a complete rotation and having fixed thereon a cam for actuating the feeding mechanism, and also a. cam for actuating the platen.

3. A check writer comprising a casing haw ing a substantially horizontal work receiving slot. :1 type carrier above the slot movable to bring a plurality of type forms, selectively, to a common printing position. a platen below the slot having an impression surfaceconnnon to said type forms, a type centering device, mechanism for feeding the work through the slot. and a .single rotary operating shaft rotata le in but one directio through a complete rotation and having fixed thereon a cam for actuating the centering device, and also a cam for actuating the platen.

4. A check writer comprising a casinghaving a substantially horizontal work reeeiving slot, a type carrier above the slot movable to bring a plurality of type forms, selectively, to a common printing position, a. platen below the slot having an impression surface common to said type forms a type centering device, mechanism for feeding the work through the slot, and a single rotary operating shaft provided with a cam for actuating the centering device, with a sep arate cam for actuating the feeding mechanism and with a separate cam for moving the platen into printing contact with the type forms.

A check writer comprising a casing having a work receiving slot opening at the sides and the front thereof, a rotary type wheel above the slot carrying a plurality of indi type forms, an operating member for actuating the type carrier and platen relatively into contact to produce the printing impression, feeding mechanism comprisinga work engaging member, a spring actuated presser member adapted to bear upon the work engaging member for clamping the work therebetween, means for moving said presser member away from said work engaging member, means for holding said presser member retracted, and means automatically actuated by said operating member for re-' leasing said presser member for engagement with the work at the commencement of the printing operation.

7. A check writer comprising an adjustable type carrier having a plurality of separate type forms, a platen common to said type forms, an operating member for actuating' the type carrier and platen relatively into contact to produce the printing impression. work feeding mechanism comprising a rotary feed wheel, a spring actuated presser roll normally bearing upon the feed wheel for engaging the work therebetween, means for moving said presser roll away from said feed wheel, means for holding said presser roll retracted. and means automatically actuated by said operating member for releasing said prcsser roll for engagement with the a presser roll norma work at the commencement of the printing operation.

A check writer comprising a casing, a

type carrier therein, a platen, an operating member for effecting a relative printing movement between said type carrier and platen, feeding mechanism comprising a work engaging member, a presser member normally bearing upon the work engaging member for clamping the work therebetween, a rod supported in said casing connected to said presser member to raise the latter, and provided with a catch, a latch plate having a. lug adapted to engage said catch when the rod is moved to raise the presser member, a spring for moving the presser member into engagement with the work and for holding the latch plate in operative relation to said rod, and means on said operating member for tripping the latch plate and releasing the rod and presser member at the commencement of the printing operation.

9. A check writer comprising acasing, a type carrier, a platen, an operating member for effecting a relative printing movement between the type carrier and platen, feedin mechanism comprising a rotary feed whee 1y engaging the feed wheel and clamping the work therebetween, a rod supported in said casing connected to said presser roll to raise the latter and having a catch, a latch plate having a lug adapted to engage said catch when the rod is moved to raise the presser roll, a spring for moving the presser roll into engagement with the work and for holding the latch plate in operative relation to the rod, and means on said operating member for trip" ping the latch plate and releasing the rod and presser roll at the commencement of the printing operation.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a type wheel, a platen, means for centering the type Wheel relatively to the platen, and a work feeding member, of a spring actuated presser member for holding the work against the feeding member, means for moving said presser member to inoperative position, a member connected to said centering means for retaining said presser member in retracted position and means for actuating said. centering means to release said presser member and to center the type wheel.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a type wheel, a 'notched centering disk therefor, a platen, and a work feeding member, of a presser member for holding the work against the feeding member, means for moving said presser member to inoperative position provided with a catch, a device having a lug for co operation with said catch to hold the presser member retracted and having also an arm said disk for centering the type wheel, a

spring for actuating the presser member toward the work and for normally holding said device with its lug in operative position relative to said catch and with its arm out of contact with the centering disk, and means for moving said device for releasing the presser member and centering the type wheel.

12. A check writer comprising a casing having an upper integral frame portion, a lower base portion, and a work supporting slot between the upper and lower portions thereof, a type carrier supported in the upper portion of the casing abOW! said slot, a member supported wholly by the upper integral portion of the casing and extending below the slot, a platen carried by said member below the slot, and operating means also supported wholly by the upper integral portion f the casing tor effecting a relative printing movement between the type carrier and platen whereby the operating stresses of the machine are wholly borne by the integral frame portion of the casing above the slot.

13. A check writer comprising a casing having an integral upper portion, a base portion and a slot between said portions,

a type carrier above the slot mounted in the upper portion of the casing, a bellcrank lever supported wholly by the upper: integral portion of the casing and having one arm extending below the slot, a platen carried by said arm below the slot, an operating means supported wholly by the upper integral portion of the casing and connected with, the other arm of the platen lever for effecting a relative printing movement between. the type carrier and platen, whereby the operating stresses of the machine are wholly borne by the integral portion of the casing above the slot.

14. A check writer comprising a casing, a type wheel therein, a member pivotally mounted in said casing, an ink roll journaled on said member for rolling contact with the type wheel, a lever pivotally mounted in the casing, a platen carried by said lever for cooperation with the type wheel, a spring connected to said member to press the ink roll against the type wheel and to said lever to maintain the platen normally in inactive position, and means for actuating the platen into printing contact with the type wheel.

15. In a check writer having a work receiving slot; 'a type carrier; a. platen; a

platen operating lever, said lever and the mit insertion of the work between. the type and platen, and means for effecting relative movement of the type and platen whereby to print.

16. In a check writer having a Work receiving slot; a type carrier; .a platen; a platen operating lever, said-lever and the type carrier both having their supports on the same side of the Work receiving slot and the lever being formed to hold. the 10 platen lever to cause printing engagement 1 of the platen with the type.

LIBANUS M. TODD. CHARLES G. TIEFEL'. 

